Thalassotherapy

Thalassotherapy

Thalassotherapy, (from the Greek word thalassa, meaning "sea") is the medical use of seawater. Balneotherapy, the medical use of bathing, is a related health treatment. The properties of seawater are believed to have beneficial effects upon the pores of the skin. Thalassotherapy was developed in seaside towns in Brittany, France during the 19th century. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2006/07/31/hnewager01.xml&sSheet=/health/2006/08/01/ixhright.html] The effectiveness of this method as therapy is not widely acceptable as it has not been proven scientifically. The therapy is applied in various forms, as either showers of warmed seawater, application of marine mud or of algae paste, or the inhalation of sea fog. Spas make hot seawater and provide mud- and seaweed wrapping services.

Beneficial results on cardiac and respiratory disease, thyroid function, arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, and eye diseases have been reported and studied.cite journal |author=Smyth PP |title=Role of iodine in antioxidant defence in thyroid and breast disease |journal=Biofactors |volume=19 |issue=3-4 |pages=121–30 |year=2003 |pmid=14757962 |doi= |url=http://iospress.metapress.com/openurl.asp?genre=article&issn=0951-6433&volume=19&issue=3&spage=121]

Trace elements of magnesium, potassium, calcium sulphates, sodium, and iodine, found in seawater, are believed to be absorbed through the skin.

Popular with actresses such as Joan Collins and Jennifer Lopez [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/main.jhtml?xml=/health/2006/07/31/hnewager01.xml&sSheet=/health/2006/08/01/ixhright.html] .

It is common in the Dead Sea area.

References


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • thalassotherapy — noun Etymology: Greek thalassa + English therapy Date: 1899 exposure to seawater (as in a hot tub) or application of sea products (as seaweed or sea salt) to the body for health or beauty benefits …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • thalassotherapy — noun The therapeutic use of sea water …   Wiktionary

  • thalassotherapy — Treatment of disease by exposure to sea air, by sea bathing, or by a sea voyage. [G. thalassa, the sea] * * * tha·las·so·ther·a·py thə .las ō ther ə pē n, pl pies exposure to seawater (as in a hot tub) or application of sea products (as seaweed… …   Medical dictionary

  • thalassotherapy — [θəˌlasə(ʊ) θɛrəpi] noun the use of seawater in cosmetic and health treatment. Origin C19: from Gk thalassa sea + therapy …   English new terms dictionary

  • thalassotherapy — tha·las·so·therapy …   English syllables

  • thalassotherapy — n. treatment by means of remedial bathing in sea water …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • thalassotherapy — thəˌlasōˌ noun Etymology: thalass + therapy : exposure to seawater (as in a hot tub) or application of sea products (as seaweed or sea salt) to the body for health or beauty benefits …   Useful english dictionary

  • Талассотерапия, Морелечение (Thalassotherapy) — метод лечения, основанный на целебном действии купания в морской Источник: Медицинский словарь …   Медицинские термины

  • ТАЛАССОТЕРАПИЯ, МОРЕЛЕЧЕНИЕ — (thalassotherapy) метод лечения, основанный на целебном действии купания в морской воде …   Толковый словарь по медицине

  • Water cure (therapy) — This article is about a form of therapy used in the 18th and 19th century. For the form of torture, see water cure (torture). A water cure in the therapeutic sense is a course of medical treatment by hydrotherapy.[1] Contents 1 Overview 2 …   Wikipedia

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